1891 argentine mauser, Legality Questions!?

[MauserMike]

So as some of you in southern Cali may know, Pala Motocross track has shut down, pretty much for good, i was an employee there my entire working career and i am now out of work.

So its time to let go of a few firearm purchases i have made, here's my current list of stuff for sale in calguns classifieds http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=930724 .

But more to the point and why i'm posting this in Curio and Relic, I have to sell my all original 1891 argentine mauser, or at least i would benefit from doing so as i just dont do anything with it anymore. I cant reload right now and i cant buy ammo for this thing

I was DROSED for this weapon... from the LGS.... they take every precaution... dont ask....

as far as i know this gun isnt even a gun its an antique and i thought C&R eligible, its a B serial Loewe which is made before whatever magical date they spun the dial to.

SO what would i do to privately sell this antique? would it cost money to transfer this firewood? or is it on the hit list now? and basically its a weapon of mass destruction and must be tracked by stealth bombers at all times.

please and thanks in advance, be sure to PM me if you are interested in the future sale of my argy mauser.

thanks.

[Mustang]

According to Argentine Mauser Rifles 1871-1959, the definitive work on Argentine Mausers, "B series" rifles were manufactured in 1892. If your '91 is a rifle, that makes it an antique and you can sell it directly to willing buyer.

If it is a carbine, and you are sure it is Loewe marked, then it was made in 1893...still an antique.

DWM made some "B series" carbines in 1899 and those would require a dealer.

[Emdawg]

A B-series Ludwig Loewe, Berlin would be an antique, regardless of whether it was DROS'd at a gun shop. In fact, the shop is not supposed to DROS or log an antique into their books, but most don't care or know the difference.

[thenodnarb]

I bought one of these yesterday from a calgunner. He bought it 3 days ago. He bought it with his C&R license. Now it might have come in from out of state, but if it was somehow dros'd to him, being 2014, would that mean it was now registered to him even though it should never have been dros'd?

[Eljay]

If I understand the question correctly - if a dealer at some point typed all the info into the DROS system and hit submit, the state keeps it. That's really the bottom line.

[knucklehead0202]

How much do you want for it and how's it look? PM me.

[MauserMike]

Not sure if i am going to sell it, but its in excellent shape for its age and is really a great example of an untouched 1891 mauser. i would say an 8 or 9 out of ten at the least.

what do you guys think its worth. if i wanted to try and sell it for a fair price to both buyer and I.

was thinking about starting at 500 obo.

[Mustang]

Is it a rifle or carbine? Still have the Argentine crest on the top of the receiver ring? Do all the parts have matching serial numbers?

Hard to say what it is worth without pictures

[thenodnarb]

I have a similar condition 1891 Rifle. All numbers matching but ground crest. I only paid $175 but I'm sure its worth more. Carbines are worth even more but are almost never matching numbers. Apparently there were many unissued rifles that the infantry never used, and were eventually sold, with the crests ground off, as surplus. The carbines saw lots more use, and longer service, and weren't sold until after they stopped grinding off the crests.

If I understand the question correctly - if a dealer at some point typed all the info into the DROS system and hit submit, the state keeps it. That's really the bottom line.

If you are responding to the OP, then it depends on when it was Dros'd. If it was pre-2014, then the only info that goes to the state is the quantity of long guns. they receive no information on what gun it is. If it was after 2014, they ask for information just like with a pistol. I haven't used the DROS system since it was changed, but I think they have a ridiculous drop down list of rifle makes and models to choose from like they do with the handgun list.

Bottom line to OP is that even if it was DROS'd, unless it was this year, you can sell it cash and carry legally. Its not legally defined as a firearm. You can even ship it through the mail to a non-ffl! I love antiques!

[MauserMike]

Full length rifle, no crest, 80-90% blueing, excellent overall condition for age, never been abused, untouched looking really, has some small dings/dents here and there but very nice wood, one hairline fracture an inch or so long in the top barrel handguard B serial number from Leowe, all matching, very nice deep red wood. shoots extremely well (prvi new ammo) have all the brass from what i shot, bore looks great for age probably hasn't been shot much, no bayonet/scabbard was available when i got it years ago. smoothest action i have ever actioned.

like i think i said before though i am reluctant to sell this, was my first gun i bought just to collect and own it.

price would have to be worth me letting go of it so no low balls

ill try and get some pics today

Oh and what would the transaction be like if i wanted to sell this gun? do i just say here you go gimme the cash? i can just see the feds rolling in their graves.

[thenodnarb]

Full length rifle, no crest, 80-90% blueing, excellent overall condition for age, never been abused, untouched looking really, has some small dings/dents here and there but very nice wood, one hairline fracture an inch or so long in the top barrel handguard B serial number from Leowe, all matching, very nice deep red wood. shoots extremely well (prvi new ammo) have all the brass from what i shot, bore looks great for age probably hasn't been shot much, no bayonet/scabbard was available when i got it years ago. smoothest action i have ever actioned.

like i think i said before though i am reluctant to sell this, was my first gun i bought just to collect and own it.

price would have to be worth me letting go of it so no low balls

ill try and get some pics today

Oh and what would the transaction be like if i wanted to sell this gun? do i just say here you go gimme the cash? i can just see the feds rolling in their graves.

I updated my post. Look above.
If you do sell it, I'll buy your saved brass. PM me.
I would keep it. They are the finest antique rifles around. You could probably get $500(*on gunbroker) but in ten years they will cost a lot more. You'll regret it I'm sure.
I should add that even if it was DROS'd this year(even though it shouldn't have been DROS'd) you should be able to do something to get it out of your name. I think there is a form that you send in to DOJ that says you sold it out of state or something and that you are no longer in possession.

[Mustang]

I think it would be hard to get $500 for your rifle, based on your description.

I have three rifles like you described...

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=122343

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=106574

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=50542

I paid much less than $500 for each. Granted, the earliest one was back in 2008, but the other 2 were within the last 3 years.

[MauserMike]

I think it would be hard to get $500 for your rifle, based on your description.

I have three rifles like you described...

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=122343

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=106574

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=50542

I paid much less than $500 for each. Granted, the earliest one was back in 2008, but the other 2 were within the last 3 years.

which is why i put OBO after 500 your rifles are quite nice but just based on the pictures, could be wrong, but mine looks to be in a bit better shape than those, i know 500 is reaching for the top end of the market, but 500 was the top of the market years ago, i paid less than what i want to get out of it but that doesn't matter most guns are an investment right?

Then a few years down the road, with the way things are going now, it will be worth even more if kept up. Just having it in so cal im sure i can sell it in person for, or near what i want out of it. i know at any price i sell this rifle i will be making money, and someone will have an excellent rifle for what its worth. I will try and go get some pictures right now, my left knee is swiss cheese from a very recent meniscus repair.

i hope the hydrocodone isn't making me think shes purdier than she really is

thanks for the feedback btw, always appreciative.

EDIT* just got her out of the back of the safe, i don't know if i even want to sell her.... i rarely see guns this old and in this good of shape, which is why i bought it in the first place, was looking for something like a big 5 91/30, but i saw this in our local gun shop and i had to have it, i would say 95% bluing only due to some discoloration on the magazine well area, wood is as excellent as i remember, not perfect but how could it be with such history. the magazine follower plate is still 100% blued with very minimal scratches even.

i might go get the thing professionally appraised. before i consider putting a marketplace ad up.

[Mustang]

Well, like I said, it is tough to estimate a value without pictures.

Good luck

[ccmano]

If it's marked "Loewe" it's an antique, period! The original "Loewe" company ceased to exist in 1896 when they merged with (bought out) Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik. In 1896, Ludwig Loewe & Cie obtained a majority interest in the Karlsruhe based Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik. In the same year, it was decided to merge the ammunition production of Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik with Loewe's firearms branch in Berlin, creating a new company of which Isador Loewe remained the owner: Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM).

H